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This would be more properly titled "The Best of Les Paul at Decca," as all 12 of the songs are taken from his slim body of 1944-1947 Decca recordings. That isn't to say that these aren't quality tracks that are of substantial importance to Paul's discography, only that they certainly aren't among his best or most popular, particularly as none of them were done with Mary Ford. That qualification out of the way, these lead off with four good small-combo instrumental jazz sides from 1944, including "Begin the Beguine" and Irving Berlin's "Blue Sides," in which Paul's speedy, nimble runs are already well in evidence. Less interesting to Paul fans, since Paul is less in the forefront, are sides on which he accompanies the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, and Dick Haymes. Filling out the program are more instrumentals, including the 1945 instrumental "Hawaiian Paradise" and four 1947 tracks, among them his versions of "Steel Guitar Rag," "Caravan," and Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie." Because Paul had yet to record his pioneering multi-track overdubs, this early work isn't nearly as important as what he would record during his subsequent stint on Capitol, but it does serve to illustrate his solid foundation as a skilled, versatile jazz-pop guitarist.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul, Producer - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Les Paul, Producer - Guy B. Wood, ComposerLyricist - Guy Wood, ComposerLyricist - Sol Marcus, ComposerLyricist - Edward Seiler, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Les Paul, Arranger, Work Arranger - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1944 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jule Styne, Composer - Sammy Cahn, Author - Bing Crosby, FeaturedArtist - Les Paul, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1945 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Les Paul, Producer - HARRY OWENS, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1945 UMG Recordings, Inc.
GEORGE DAVID WEISS, ComposerLyricist - The Andrews Sisters, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Les Paul, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - BENNIE BENJAMIN, ComposerLyricist - Vic Schoen & His Orchestra, Participant
℗ 1946 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leon McAuliffe, ComposerLyricist - Merle Travis, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul, Producer - Cliffie Stone, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
George Gershwin, ComposerLyricist - Buddy DeSylva, ComposerLyricist - BALLARD MACDONALD, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Les Paul, Producer - Arthur Smith, ComposerLyricist - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Duke Ellington, Composer - Juan Tizol, Composer - Les Paul & His Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
FRANK LOESSER, ComposerLyricist - Dick Haymes, FeaturedArtist - Les Paul Trio, MainArtist
℗ 1947 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
This would be more properly titled "The Best of Les Paul at Decca," as all 12 of the songs are taken from his slim body of 1944-1947 Decca recordings. That isn't to say that these aren't quality tracks that are of substantial importance to Paul's discography, only that they certainly aren't among his best or most popular, particularly as none of them were done with Mary Ford. That qualification out of the way, these lead off with four good small-combo instrumental jazz sides from 1944, including "Begin the Beguine" and Irving Berlin's "Blue Sides," in which Paul's speedy, nimble runs are already well in evidence. Less interesting to Paul fans, since Paul is less in the forefront, are sides on which he accompanies the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, and Dick Haymes. Filling out the program are more instrumentals, including the 1945 instrumental "Hawaiian Paradise" and four 1947 tracks, among them his versions of "Steel Guitar Rag," "Caravan," and Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie." Because Paul had yet to record his pioneering multi-track overdubs, this early work isn't nearly as important as what he would record during his subsequent stint on Capitol, but it does serve to illustrate his solid foundation as a skilled, versatile jazz-pop guitarist.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:33:16
- Main artists: Les Paul
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen*
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2001 MCA Records Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2001 Geffen Records
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